My name is Carlota Zimmerman and I'm the Creativity Yenta.™ And even though we haven't met, and this is crazy, I'm already in love with your creativity, passion and rich potential.
To help you achieve your goals and effectuate that potential, I'll create personalized and innovative strategies for you,organically based on your skills, experience and education.
You can choose to love your life...and I can help!

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Connectivity

Increasingly I understand that life, all life, is about relationships...relationships or lack thereof. These relationships determine where and how we live, the jobs we get, the people we date, the movies we like, the music we listen to...etc. You go to college, for example, as much as for what you are going to learn there, as for whom you will have the opportunity to meet. You check out your friend's friends on Facebook to see who looks interesting. The barista at your local Starbucks knows you, so your coffee comes quicker, made just how you like it. Your friends tell you about a film they saw, and you add it to your Netflix queue. You're unemployed, you tell enough friends, eventually someone knows someone who knows of something...So, relationships rule our lives. And yet.
(And this is what drives the yenta of my soul insane.) And yet, in 2011: there are still people who seem to feel that networking, that using these relationships is optional. There are people on LinkedIn with no photo, or a photo taken at some body's wedding, who have profiles with huge gaps...um, what? Some of these people are employed, to which I say: so what? You, especially you with a job, this is the perfect time to network, to stay on top of developments in your field, to sharpen your skills, to meet the people who matter. You have a job, the pressure's (kinda) off. You want to know and impress those dynamic people, to have those skills so that when you need them, you're set: you have a relationship with them. When you're unemployed, it is much harder. When you're unemployed, people tend to be kind of suspicious.
This goes double for artists, god bless them, who seem to think they exist in some alternate universe. Well, that alternate universe of grants and funding is going, going, gone, so yes: YOU MUST ALSO NETWORK.
Example: how did I get my agent? What a good question, thank you for asking. My theater teacher from high school introduced me to a fantastic woman in the NYC theater scene, who introduced me to another playwright, who happened to mention the woman who had been my dramaturg when my play was first on Broadway...who had grown up to be a very big agent. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc)
Mark Zuckerberg made cash money off of Facebook...why? Because it's human nature to want to connect, to want to know what your friends are doing...and yes, to brag about much hotter your man is, than your friends' boyfriends, not that it's a competition, but you won. The influence of social media on oh I don't know, Earth, should demonstrate that fact every second of every day. So if you're not taking advantage and building these relationships...when did you become a Luddite?

That (awesome) Girl...

I'm the Creativity Yenta™ and I specialize in bringing the awesome.™
For you kids playing along at home, that means I give my clients low-cost/high-impact solutions to their professional problems. Solutions that are personalized, creative and which originate from each person's unique goals, experience and personality.
This business grew organically from my own need to incorporate and expand on the skills I had developed through my various backgrounds--TV news, writing, theater and the legal industry. The strategies I use with clients are based on the very same strategies I personally used to achieve all of my own goals.
As the Creativity Yenta,™ I'm obsessed with getting everyone everywhere to use all of their passion, energy and intelligence in order to achieve their fullest potential. Go big or go home, son. For reals. #notplaying
Because...what other choice is there? You want to wallow in unhappiness, go somewhere else. I want you to experience the best you have to offer.
I've been described as "a combination coach, force of nature with a dash of hard ass, all necessary and helpful....!" Testify!
xo
Carlota, the Creativity Yenta™

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What The 99% Thinks:

"Carlota Zimmerman (Indiana Law ’07) is one of those students who goes on to inspire and teach the teacher. Carlota is an artist who relentlessly pulls on the strings of honesty and creativity. This choice requires tremendous courage, character and persistence. Through her writing, coaching and creativity endeavors, Carlota has a knack of helping us ask the hard, existential questions about our own settled worldview, all the while making us laugh. How do we really feel? Are we playing it too safe? Are we proud of the compromises and tradeoffs we are making? As someone teaching in a law school, I think these are the right questions, at least to live a full and meaningful life. I look forward to learning more."

-- Professor William D. Henderson, Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

“Carlota keeps it real! She is simply awesome! She wants her clients to succeed in reaching their full potential, as this is seen through her passion and enthusiasm. In seeing all Carlota has achieved and created for herself, she inspires me to want the same for myself. Carlota allows you to open up about how you feel, and where you want to be. She provides great insight and honest critique meant to bring out the best in you. We are all capable of reaching out fullest potential, but sometimes we need that extra push to realize it. Carlota is that push, and sometimes a good kick in the ass!” -Aaron Schane

"You probably knew this, but I'm going to share anyway: you own the market on this creativity yenta-ness. My Yiddish sucks, and when I Googled this, it's all you. Damn woman!" -Jessica Reagan

"...one of the snappiest-written blogs out there!"-Alison Potvin, http://www.kiva.org/lender/alisonpotvin

“Carlota is quite the unique professional trainer and coach. It would be unfair to pigeon-hole Carlota as a “Career Coach” as she inspires people (clients and friends alike) to achieve their optimal results whether that correlates to business or non-business objectives. Carlota possesses a diversified background in the news and entertainment business as well as being a published playwright and the holder of a Law degree. These traits contribute to her success in motivating people to achieve their best. All in all, Carlota cares and thus comes highly recommended.” -Phil Z.

Karin Torres: "So, I was offered an exciting gig and was asked to let them know, 'how I wanted to be compensated.' Just what everyone wants to hear, right? However, there were a lot of factors involved...and I knew I only had one chance to get it right. Immediately I thought of my friend Carlota Zimmerman. I knew she had the experience, giftings and professional know-how to assess all of those factors. More importantly, I knew that she would have my best interests at heart-not allowing me to sell myself short, but also keeping me focused on where I might need to sacrifice to get future business. In short...she helped me come to a decision that I am comfortable and confident about. We all need to draw from each other's experience, abilities and gifting to find new creative ways to make it in this economy. I needed a professional sounding board and specialized guidance...she was the first person I thought of."

"As a freelancer/small business owner, it can be overwhelming trying to get your information out there...especially when you have a very limited advertising budget. Carlota literally held my hand and guided me through the world of social networking, teaching me how to use this technology to promote my business....She is more than just a creativity coach, she has become an inspiration and a friend. If you value your business/career, you should consider hiring her." -Margie Bresciani, www.margiemakeup.com

"I have never known such great devotion to make the most out of any situation. No matter the circumstances, there is always the desire to move forward in anything and get the best out of every person. Faithfulness, commitment, persistence, endurance and even a sense of fun are always present. But enough about The Kitten: Carlota is great. In all seriousness, Carlota's mentoring and coaching have been an invaluable help for us. We cannot say enough about how helpful she has been and we would gladly recommend her career coaching services to everyone. Thank you again, Carlota." Dom Travano